The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has begun a nationwide inspection of cough syrup manufacturing units after over 20 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to kidney failure linked to contaminated syrups.
The CDSCO has instructed all states and union territories to provide details of cough syrup manufacturers within their jurisdiction. It also noted that none of the states have fully implemented the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) guidelines meant to ensure the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products.
In connection with the deaths, G. Ranganathan, the owner of Shri Shant Pharmaceuticals, which produced the Coldrif syrup, was arrested in Chennai with the help of Tamil Nadu Police. Two senior drug inspectors in Tamil Nadu have been suspended for negligence.
Three cough syrup brands — Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and Relief — have been recalled from the market and halted in production, according to CDSCO. The organization clarified that these products were not exported to any foreign country. The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier sought detailed information from India regarding these medicines following the child fatalities.
